Clinical Efficacy of Korea Red Ginseng on Vasculogenic Impotent Patients

Kim, Soo Woong; Paick, Jae Seung

Abstract

PURPOSE: To investigate the clinical efficacy of Korea red ginseng for relief of mild vasculogenic impotence.
PATIENTS AND METHODS
Twenty-six patients having mild vasculogenic impotence (absence of full rigidity on the pharmacologic erection test and peak systolic velocity in the cavernous arteries of 20-35 cm/sec) were enrolled in this randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled study. Duplex sonography of the cavernous artery, Rigiscan noctunal penile tumescence monitoring, and a modified Watts sexual function questionnaire were carried out before and after 3 months of treatment.
RESULTS
The total and sexual satisfaction score on the questionnaire were significantly increased after treatment with Korean red ginseng. Most of the other variables were also improved, although without statistical significance. Even though the difference was insignificant, possibly because of the small number of patients enrolled, the end-diastolic velocity in the cavernous artery was decreased in patients receiving ginseng. This finding might reflect a relaxation effect of ginseng on corpus cavernosal smooth muscle, which has been demonstrated in vitro.
CONCLUSION
Korea red ginseng might improve subjective sexual function in men with mild vasculogenic impotence. However, efficacy was not proved objectively.